KINGSTON – The #4 nationally ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks scored 23 unanswered points to take the #7 Queen's Golden Gaels 23-4 in front of 5,582 fans at Richardson Stadium.
The Hawks held the Gaels to only a single and a field goal, the first time this season they did not scoring a major. Defensive back Jahmeeks Beckford (Kitchener, Ont.) contributed with two interceptions off of Danny Brannagan and the Gael offence assisted with two fumbles of their own.
After a slow first quarter which saw a combined three first downs, the Hawks exploded with 17 points in the second quarter.
"We didn't have much going in the first quarter," said Manager of Football Operations and Head Coach Gary Jeffries. "We were fortunate to hold on there and keep it at four points until we got going, but we never panicked and both sides of the ball stuck with the game plan."
Quarterback Ian Noble (West Vancouver, B.C.) completed 20 of 31 passes for 200 yards and a major, dropping below his 77% completion average for the first time this season.
"They came in ready for the rushing game," said Noble. "We adjusted at first and then still made it work. All of the members of the offence contributed significantly in today's performance."
Noble rushed for seventeen yards in the game including a one-yard carry after receiver Andy Baechler (Ayr, Ont.) made a 38-yard catch in his return to the line-up. The 5'9 receiver was out of the roster last weekend as a result of an ankle injury in the game against Toronto.
"It was tough to sit out last week at Homecoming," said Baechler who finished the game with six catches for 73 yards. "This week was our biggest game of the season and it was nice to be a part of it. I still think there is some improvement for me health-wise, but I was involved in the game as much as I could be."
The nation's leading rusher Ryan Lynch (Waterloo, Ont.) was held to 78 yards over 20 carries for the first time this season as the Gael defence had counted on the run being a significant part of the purple-and-gold offence.
Queens' Mike Giffin caused some trouble for the Golden Hawk defense as he carried the ball 25 times for 165 yards. The remainder of the offense was in the air as Brannagan completed 10 of 30 for 159 yards.
"Giffin is a load," said Beckford who was named the RCA Lyra Player of the Game by The Score. "He's a big and strong guy that it took a lot of us to stop their run game and halt their attack."
"They had some big plays but we made up for it later on," commented Brent Hickey (Burlington, Ont.) "Each unit picks up when the other is slow and today the offense took a quarter to get into the game but we all contributed to make the win."
Hickey contributed with 3.5 tackles in the game while linebacker Giancarlo Rapanaro (Niagara Falls, Ont.) led the team with 4.5. Defensive end Paul Hancock (Cochrane, Alta.) had the only sack of the game while also forcing a fumble. Laurier leading tackler Anthony Maggiacomo (Cambridge, Ont.) made four tackles (three solo) on the performance as well.
"Guelph should be a similar team to Queen's," commented Hickey on next week's battle between Guelph (3-2) and the Golden Hawks (5-0). "With Fitzgibbon and Dunk we'll have a lot to be aware of."
Saturday's game will take place at Alumni Field in Guelph with a 1:00 p.m. kickoff. The game will be broadcast live on The Score television network.
